Best GPS unit?

[Ghost Lemur]

Only just starting to my research on this topic. Have a lot of other purchase to come before this one.

There's some good information available about GPS in general, less (or maybe just harder to find) about GPS in terms of dual sport motorcycles.

My requirements at this stage...

• Track log. So I can go exploring come home and download where I went, maybe keep a database of rides I've done, and share it with others.
• Program routes on the computer load them in the unit. Ie with the get the paper route chart for a ride and plot it for the gps the night before and not worry about the roll chart on the day.
• Strong antenna suitable for being in the thick of the valley bush exploring an amazing trail.
• Has to be rugged. I do drop my bike, will continue to do so for as long as I'm increasing my skills and pushing myself. So waterproof, mud safe, not going to be affected by vibrations.

One otherthing which is pretty specific to my type of bike is it's got no battery so unless I somehow mounted and installed a battery electrial system solely for the gps (which could be a possibility I suppose), it's got to be self sufficent.

At this stage as far as manufacturers it seems to be between Garmin and Magellan. They both have a sizable range of rugged GPS.

For those of you who have a GPS. Which brand/model? Thoughts and opinions on it?

I'll be updating/editing this main post as my research continues. Will add more usefull links as I find them.

LINKS

General GPS information
GPSinformation.net
GPS.org.nz
The GPS Resource Library
Wikipedia GPS entry

Bike specific information
http://www.moto-guide.com/motorcycle-gps.htm
Advrider.com has a complete section of their forums devoted to GPS.

Manufacturers
Garmin
Magellan

Retailers
Downunder Pilot Shop

NZ Mapping
MapToasterTopo
Brent's GPS Maps
The New Zealand Open GPS Maps Project

[Hitcher]

Get one whose display doesn't cook in direct sunlight and which doesn't time-out after two hours (i.e. not a Garmin Etrex Legend).

[far queue]

I've also only just started some research on this. There's an article all about it in the Two Wheels mag from April 06 I think - it's my drawer at work, so I'll shoot it up to you if you like. The one they recommended is the Garmin Quest - it's around around $1000NZ though.

[Lou Girardin]

I've got a Garmin Quest, it's waterproof, battery powered (up to 20 hours) and small. The antenna unfolds from the rear of the unit and wouldn't take heavy knocks. You'd have to mount it in a protected place.
Great unit though.

[Ghost Lemur]

By the sounds of it the Two Wheels article is looking at more along the lines for a road bike. If that's the case the new Garmin Zumo looks mint. Huge touch sensitive screen. Wouldn't want to take it offroad though.

The models I've put on the list so far are...
Magellan eXplorist series (particularly the XL and 600 models)
Garmin 60/76 series

One thing I'm finding is the software for NZ still sucks arse. Where as you can get a 9GB topo DVD set for Australia, the DiscoverNZ map fits on a 256MB memory card. For NZ they seem to only bother going down to 1:50,000, where as overseas (including Oz) you'll get them going down to 1:25,000 or even 1:10,000.

You'd think between being a small country and having a GPS firm (Navman) based here we'd be on the cutting edge as far as mapping goes. But no.

Also found most mapping is for the Garmin, which is a postive for it. Still have to look into how difficult it'd be to convert Garmin based maps to the Magellan (for example).

The MapToaster software seems (on the face of it) to be my kind of pc end software as it according to their site has...

• all the rich detail of the paper maps - seamless across NZ
• 1:50,000 though 1:2 million scale maps
• integrated aerial and satellite imagery with transparent topomap overlays, included as standard

Loving the aerial/sat imagery, hating the 1:50,000 scale.

[far queue]

By the sounds of it the Two Wheels article is looking at more along the lines for a road bike.

What do you base that thought on?

[Ghost Lemur]

What do you base that thought on?

On two assumptions. Two Wheels is a sportbike mag (generalisation) and the Quest II won. Yes it looks like quite a good unit, but doesn't look very sturdy/rugged. I'd be worried about taking it offroad.

Will obviously have to read the article to see if any of these assumptions are right.

[paulj]

I'm just about to take delivery of a Garmin extrix Vista CX for back country trailing - from what I can glean none work that well under trees and unless you're going into mapping type units they all have the same or similar accuracy.

It arrives tomorrow along with some topo's and other bits n bobs for biking use (mounts, battery connector ...) - going to give it a burst this weekend - I'll post back, meantime this site will confuse the hell out of you - well it did me! - http://gpsinformation.net/

paulj

[far queue]

On two assumptions. Two Wheels is a sportbike mag (generalisation) and the Quest II won.

Used to be just road bikes, now has dual sport stuff in it too.

Yes it looks like quite a good unit, but doesn't look very sturdy/rugged. I'd be worried about taking it offroad.

The article is about it being used to set and then run the BMW R1200GS Adventure press release. It's rugged, waterproof, has a handlebar mount and it sounds perfect for the use I would put it to.

Will obviously have to read the article to see if any of these assumptions are right.

Yes, that would be an idea.

[far queue]

...meantime this site will confuse the hell out of you - well it did me! - http://gpsinformation.net/

Cool link, thanks for posting it

[clint640]

Loving the aerial/sat imagery, hating the 1:50,000 scale.

The problem is there never have been 1:25000 topo's of all NZ, all the other maps used are mostly scans or conversions of LINZ maps that are public domain & cost nothing in copyright license, the expense of developing a nationwide 1:25000 detail level topomap set would be huge.

Map Toaster is good, I've got Memory-Map topo which is very similar but has street maps as well which is bloody handy. It is a little more expensive though.

Cheers
Clint

[Zebedee]

...

• Strong antenna suitable for being in the thick of the valley bush exploring an amazing trail.
• Has to be rugged. I do drop my bike, will continue to do so for as long as I'm increasing my skills and pushing myself. So waterproof, mud safe, not going to be affected by vibrations

…

Just my $0.02 …

I’ve currently using a Garmin GPS III+ which will do all you are asking, and has the advantage of being older and therefore cheaper to buy and replace if it all turns to custard.

I originally picked the unit up in the UK and I’ve now uploaded the maps from the NZ Open Maps Project and I must say that I am extremely impressed.

FWIW I’d be inclined to check through the specs sheets on the Garmin discontinued models, and see what crops up on trade-me.

One big point though. Don’t expect to get a constant signal if you are bush bashing in a valley somewhere.

GPS signals are extremely weak, and when I’m on the bike I frequently loose signal in the forest. That said, if the GPS unit is stationary for a few minutes you can normally get a lock on a few satellites.

One little tip I’ve picked up … if you are setting up a route, it’s a good idea to set up a waypoint just before AND just after a junction.

That way if the mapping software that you are using isn’t 100% accurate you get a bit of notice before you get to the junction, and you also get a far better indication of which trail you should be taking at the junction.

… now get a GPS unit and get lost

[XR250 Si]

Hi Ghost Lemur,

If you pick up a copy of the November of NZ Fishing News, they have a big write up on a wide range of handheld gps units with lists of features and how they compare to each other.

[NordieBoy]

Get one whose display doesn't cook in direct sunlight and which doesn't time-out after two hours (i.e. not a Garmin Etrex Legend).

Get a Garmin eTrex Legend

Mine is just over 3 years old now and has been on my bike almost every day (It's my speedo ) and even on the XR during MX races and trail rides.

Can hold bundle of searchable street maps and still navigate in realtime.

And it's old enough to be cheap now.

[NordieBoy]

Also check out...
http://www.gps.org.nz/